地道英语：Overkill 夸张的想法

屈联西

   2011年06月08日 中国日报网-英语点津

　　Larry和李华一起去参观艺术博物馆，他们会用到一个常用语：Overkill，这个词本来的意思是过度杀伤，现在引申为“夸张、过分的想法或行为”。
　　LH: Larry, 听我的没错吧。逛艺术博物馆比看电影强多了！
　　L: Well I agree. But the art museum would be even better if it served popcorn too!
　　LH: 这倒也是，要是博物馆里也卖爆米花、热狗、啤酒，边逛边吃，那该有多舒服啊！
　　L: Hot dogs and beer? I don't know, Lihua. I think that might be overkill。
　　LH: Overkill是什么意思？
　　Overkill 夸张的想法
　　L: When you think that an idea goes too far, you can say that it is overkill。
　　LH: 哦，overkill就是过份的想法或行为。你是说，在博物馆里卖爆米花似乎还不错，可如果连热狗和啤酒都一起卖就太夸张了。
　　L: That's right! Here is another example. Elliot's boss thought about firing him for being an hour late to work, but then decided that would be overkill。
　　LH: 哦，Elliot迟到了一个小时，老板本来想因为这个而炒他的鱿鱼，不过后来觉得，这么做未免太过份了。对了，Larry, 博物馆这么好，我们天天来这里逛如何？
　　L: Lihua, I really enjoy the art gallery, but coming here every single day would definitely be overkill。
　　LH: 什么过份，你真没有艺术细胞！ 我的艺术气质比你浓多了，我在想我干脆去读个艺术史的博士好了！
　　L: Lihua, it's fine to enjoy art as a hobby, but I think getting a PhD in art history would really be overkill。
　　LH: 呵呵，我开玩笑的。对了Larry, 你还记得上次咱们去华盛顿看兵马俑展览么？
　　L: I sure do! That was one of my favorites。
　　LH: 就是，多好看啊。可惜展出的只是一部分，要是所有兵马俑都到美国来展览就好了！
　　L; I don't know ... I was satisfied seeing just a few. I think bringing the entire collection here would be overkill。
　　LH: 才不会呢！要看就得看全的！那个气势，肯定不一样！我给你买张机票，你去中国看吧！
　　L: Lihua, it's nice that you're encouraging me to see the Teracotta Warriors, but buying me a plane ticket to China is definitely overkill!